asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give as a percentage Great Britain's export and import figures to the EEC and the Commonwealth, respectively, in 1962 and the equivalent figures for 1976.

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom Exports and Imports by Area as Proportions of Total Exports and Imports Respectively
Percentages, overseas trade statistics basis EEC*
1962
Exports		…	26
Imports		…	22
1976
Exports		…	35½
Imports		…	36½
	Commonwealth*
1962
Exports		…	29
Imports		…	29
1976
Exports		…	15
Imports		…	13½
*As at present constituted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume and value of roofing slates that were imported and exported by the United Kingdom for the most recent available year.

In the first five months of this year, 1,200 metric tons of slate roofing and wall tiles were imported, valued at £160,000 cif and 1,000 metric tons valued at £211,000 fob were exported. Comparable figures are not available for 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received any representations from the trade unions concerning the phasing out of the use of private security agencies for passenger searching in United Kingdom airports under the management of the British Airports Authority.

I have not received any representations from the trade unions since I announced the proposed changes in passenger searching arrangements at British Airports Authority airports. I had discussions with the Transport and General Workers Union before making the announcement. They welcomed the change.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much ferrous scrap has been imported from the United States of America in the last 12 months; and at what average price per tonne.

In the 12 months ending April 1977, 431 thousand tonnes were imported at an average value of £73 per tonne. This average value derived from the import statistics is not a true price and would be influenced by different qualities of scrap, transport costs and other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of exports from the United Kingdom went to other EEC countries in each of the past four years.

The figures are:

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS TO EEC AS PROPORTION OF TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS
					Percentages, balance of payments basis
1973	…	…	…	…	32·5
1974	…	…	…	…	33·8
1975	…	…	…	…	32·3
1976	…	…	…	…	35·6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether, under the new air service agreement, Laker Airways remains a United Kingdom designated flag carrier on the London-New York route; and whether he hopes to be able to negotiate better terms for Laker's United States of America permit for the Skytrain service than that at present granted by the CAB for the service;(2) to what extent United States of America scheduled or supplemented operators will be able to operate services similar to the Laker Skytrain as a result of the recent agreement: (

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will institute an urgent inquiry under the Companies Act into the affairs of the Performing Right Society Ltd.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report his statutory duties with

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of Trade if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the total imports of the commodities set out below, by weight or volume as relevant, firstly from the EEC and secondly from the rest of the world: (a) live animals, (b) meat and meat products, (c) fish, (d) cereals and cereal preparations, (e) fruit and vegetables, (f) sugar and sugar preparations, (g) honey, (h) coffee, (0 tea, (j) cocoa, (k) spices, (l) feeding stuffs for animals and (m) other food preparations not covered in these categories.

Following is the information for year 1976:regard to the registration of business names.

The Registration of Business Names Act 1916, as amended by the Companies Acts 1947 and 1976, empowers the Secretary of State to:

appoint the Registrar of Business Names; make rules concerning—

the fees (within limits prescribed in the Act) to be paid to the Registrar;

the forms to be used under the Act;

the duties to be performed by the Registrar;

the performance by Assistant Registrars and other officers of acts required to be done by the Registrar;

generally, the conduct and regulation of registration under the Act;

hear appeals against the decision of the Registrar;

request information for the purposes of ascertaining liability to register under the Act;

allow an extension of time in which to report a change of registered particulars to the Registrar.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his replies, Official Report, 27th May, c. 655–6 and 20th June, c. 355–6, on the rate of applications for registration of a business name and daily output of new registrations, what steps are being taken to improve the present position in which the backlog of applications is shown by his answers to be increasing at a rate of 1,750 per week.

There will shortly be an increase in the number of staff employed on the examination and registration of new applications. A further study is being made of the Registry's organisation, work load and resources to decide whether additional relief is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

My Department owns 201 vehicles, most of which are in the Coastguard Service. 160 are Land Rovers, 35 saloons, four vans and two specialist vehicles. Three people are employed as drivers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many airports in the United Kingdom are now under the control of the British Airports Authority.

The British Airports Authority owns and operates seven airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, under the terms of the "Municipalisation Agreement" 1960 (Birmingham), his Department may make financial grants for noise insulation schemes.

The agreement of 28th March 1961 relating to Birmingham Airport makes no provision for the payment of grants for noise insulation schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consideration his Department is giving to the scheme drawn up by the city planners to extend the main runway of Birmingham Airport across the A45 Coventry road, as a possible future development at the airport.

The possible further development of Birmingham Airport was considered in Part 2 of the consultation document "Airport Strategy for Great Britain", but no proposal for an extension to the main runway at the airport has been submitted to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the designs for new terminal facilities, aprons and taxiways for Birmingham Airport drawn up by the West Midlands County Council and the British Airports Authority are now completed.

I understand that studies for a new passenger terminal and related facilities at Birmingham Airport have been undertaken by the West Midlands County Council and by the British Airports Authority at the county council's request. No proposals have been submitted to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give the estimated number of passengers for which the designs for new terminal facilities at Birmingham Airport will provide.

I understand that the studies for a new terminal at Birmingham Airport are related to a capacity of about 3 million passengers a year, but no proposals have been put to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to announce his regional airport strategy plans.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 21st June.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions have taken place between his Department and the West Midlands County Council about the future ownership and control of the Birmingham Airport.

The acquisition of further airports by the British Airports Authority was considered in Part 2 of the consultation document "Airport Strategy for Great Britain", but there have been no discussions between my Department and the West Midlands County Council about the future ownership of Birmingham Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of total exports is represented by exports of defence equipment including vessels and aircraft; and how much this proportion would have risen but for the refusal of export licences in the three years since March 1974.

Exports of defence equipment represent about 2·5 per cent. of total exports. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what restrictions are to be applied to night jet movements at Heathrow and Gatwick in the winter period from 1st November 1977 to 31st March 1978.

I have decided that the number of night jet movements permitted in the coming winter should be 2,000 at Heathrow and 1,400 at Gatwick. This represents a cut of 200 in the quotas at both airports last winter. The hours of restriction will be unchanged. This decision continues the progressive reductions in the permitted level of night time disturbance and is compatible with both long term strategies proposed in the consultation document "Night Disturbance from Aircraft Noise at Heathrow and Gatwick".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the latest balance of trade between Israel and the United Kingdom.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Advocate how many cases are now being considered in South Ayrshire in respect of river pollution.

There is one case now being considered in South Ayrshire in respect of river pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection to what extent the increases in the retail price index between 23rd April 1974 and 19th April 1977 on the items as stated in the reply of Tuesday 14th June arose as a result of tax increases, other Government actions or policy and membership of the Common Market.

Estimates of the effect on the retail price index of tax increases and other Government actions implicit in Budget and interim Budget measures over the period were given in a reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire [Vol. 930, cols. 305–306.] These measures were necessary to contain the public sector borrowing requirement and to maintain confidence in sterling. There is no official estimate of the extent to which EEC membership has affected retail prices throughout that period because it is not possible to calculate precisely how prices would have behaved had we not joined.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the difficulty of licensees and their staff in dispensing an exact amount of liquor as required by law, if he will consider amending legislation to allow for a maximum and minimum tolerance level.

No. While I accept that the serving of draught beer or cider in brim measures can present difficulties I do not believe that it would be in the best interests of consumers to legalise tolerance levels on quantity delivered. It is open to licensees to use oversize lined glasses and my Department is currently considering whether brim measures should be phased out.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

My Department owns two vehicles; both are vans. Nobody is employed as a driver.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by how much the general level of prices is above or below that prevailing in London in each of the other capital cities of EEC countries according to the latest available information.

According to estimates produced by the Statistical Office of the European Communities, comparative levels, based on a survey of prices carried out in October 1975, are as follows:

CONSUMER PURCHASING POWER PARITIES FOR THE EEC CAPITALS (LONDON = 100)
Bonn	…	…	…	129
Paris	…	…	…	131
Rome	…	…	…	101
Amsterdam	…	…	…	119
Brussels	…	…	…	122
Luxembourg	…	…	…	113
Dublin	…	…	…	98
Copenhagen	…	…	…	147

These estimates are based on appropriate selections of goods and services normally consumed by households in each country, but excluding health and housing. An explanation of the methods used, together with further details of the estimates, is given in the

asked the Attorney-General if he will consider bringing to the attention of all magistrates the judgment of Lord Chief Justice Widgery in Williams and Others v Summerfield (1972), 2 A.E.R., 1334, which concerns the circumstances in which an order under Section 7 of the Bankers Books Evidence Act 1879 should be made.

Since a full account of the judgment of the Lord Chief Justice in this case is given in Stone's Justices' Manual, a copy of which is supplied to every magistrates' court, it should not be necessary for my noble Friend to draw the attention of magistrates specifically to it.

asked the Attorney-General how many arrests and prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Regulations 1973 (S.I., 1975, No. 2213).

From the coming into operation on 5th January 1976— 5th April 1976 in the case of Regulation 3(d)—of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Regulations 1975 until 21st June 1977, directions for prosecution for contravention of the provisions of Regulation 3 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Regulations 1975 have been given by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in respect of 161 cases. I am informed that there is no record of anyone having been arrested in respect of this offence.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation seeking to require automatic compensation for accidental injury; what estimate he has made of costs associated with such a change; and if he will make a statement.

No. This question falls largely within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Personal Injury whose report the Government expect to receive before the end of the year.

asked the Attorney-General how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

None.

asked the Attorney-General how many civil legal aid certificates were issued in England and Wales during the 1976–77 financial year.

207,106.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement concerning the construction of Drax B Power Station.

Discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

The Department of Energy owns one vehicle, a 1½-ton Bedford van which is driven by a porter/messenger who combines driving with other duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is still his policy that two thirds of North Sea oil must be refined in the United Kingdom; and whether there will be a significant advantage for the United Kingdom to obtain the premium on low sulphur high quality crude oil by exporting a substantial part of it abroad.

In his written reply of 6th December 1974 my right hon. Friend and predecessor explained the factors effecting the disposal of North Sea oil, including its low sulphur quality, and said that it would be reasonable to expect that up to two-thirds of the oil would be refined in the United Kingdom. That remains the Government's policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, under his policy of requiring a substantial part of North Sea crude oil to be refined in the United Kingdom, whether he will continue to allow substantial imports of crude oil from abroad both for blending and maintaining the correct product balance.

Yes. Some United Kingdom requirements can suitably be met by refining cheaper imported crudes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in what year he anticipates there will be a switch from petrochemicals based on petroleum and natural gas feedstocks to coal-based feedstocks.

The National Coal Board anticipates that, subject to appropriate price relativity of coal to crude oil, there will be a gradual movement in favour of the use of coal as a feedstock in chemical manufacture, and the impact of this trend should be felt before the year 2000.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, under the European Community arrangements for sharing indigenous oil in the event of an oil crisis, which authority designates the cuts to be made by member countries and which authority authorises the retrenchment to be made.

There are no such arrangements. Our oil emergency arrangements are governed by the IEA oil emergency demand restraint and sharing scheme. The Community is, however, considering a scheme proposed by the Commission under which the Commission could, for two months during an an oil crisis, set a target for reducing consumption of petroleum products in the Community by up to 10 per cent. of normal consumption, and under which any further cuts would be a matter for Council decision on proposals by the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in an energy crisis situation in Europe, whether there is an agreement with EEC partners under which the United Kingdom could be obliged to curtail its self-sufficiency in crude oil and petroleum products in 1979, 1980 and thereafter to make additional supplies available to Community partners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he anticipates that synthetic natural gas in the United Kingdom will be produced substantially from indigenous coal or from imported supplies.

The National Coal Board's "Plan for Coal" and "Plan 2000" aim to make production capacity available to meet the range of developing demands for coal as production of North Sea oil and gas declines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are at present on trial in England and Wales for alleged Irish Republican Army terrorist offences.

Four people are at present on trial at the Central Criminal Court for a number of offences in connection with bomb and shooting attacks which occurred in London in March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners are currently serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales for Irish Republican Army terrorist offences; and what is the average length of these sentences;(2) how many persons are at present remanded in custody in England and Wales for alleged Irish Republican Army offences; and how long each of them has been on remand.

There is no separate offence of terrorism in our criminal law. Whether an offender can be regarded as a terrorist and whether his offences were linked with particular organisations is a matter of judgment. The following figures are based on our assessment of all relevant information about offences believed to have been connected with Irish Republican organisations:(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police constables, sergeants and inspectors were employed to supervise the picket lines at Grunwick Processing on each day in the week beginning Monday 13th June; and what is his estimate of the total cost to public funds of police supervision on each day.

The information is as follows:

Date				Police Constables
13th June	…	…	…	252
14th June	…	…	…	420
15th June	…	…	…	294
16th June	…	…	…	441
17th June	…	…	…	576
Date				Sergeants
13th June	…	…	…	36
14th June	…	…	…	60
15th June	…	…	…	42
16th June	…	…	…	54
17th June	…	…	…	78
Date				Inspectors
13th June	…	…	…	12
14th June	…	…	…	20
15th June	…	…	…	14
16th June	…	…	…	18
17th June	…	…	…	26

Information about the costs involved could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the electorate in each parliamentary constituency in Kent; what is the percentage by which each constituency's electorate differs from the average in England; and how many constituencies there would be

Constituency			Provisional 1977 parliamentary electorate	Percentage difference from 66,056 (English quota)
Ashford	…	…	60,417	-8·5
Canterbury	…	…	88,686	+34·3
Dartford	…	…	57,689	-12·7
Dover and Deal	…	…	75,912	+14·9
Faversham	…	…	78,282	+18·5
Folkestone and Hythe	…	…	66,091	+0·1
Gillingham	…	…	63,778	-3·4
Gravesend.	…	…	88,248	+33·6
Maidstone	…	…	91,540	+38·6
Rochester and Chatham	…	…	79,782	+20·8
Royal Tunbridge Wells	…	…	71,641	+8·5
Sevenoaks	…	…	78,956	+19·5
Thanet East	…	…	48,828	-26·1
Thanet West	…	…	45,036	-31·8
Tonbridge and Malling	…	…	67,270	+1·8

On the basis of the current electoral quota for England, the provisional 1977 parliamentary electorate of Kent would entitle the county to 16 constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

994 motor vehicles are owned and used by the Department. They comprise 137 load carriers, 382 vans—85 being over 30 cwt.—229 personnel carriers, 70 utility vehicles, and 176 cars and estate cars; 222 staff are employed wholly or mainly on driving duties. Many other members of staff are required to drive in the course of their official duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending legislation to prevent outsiders other than the Bench or those engaged in the licensed trade from seeking to alter the hours of licensed houses.

On present information we see no grounds for imposing such a restriction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases under the Licensing Act 1964 have been brought to his attention in which outsiders not engaged in the

The information is as follows:licensed trade have requested a change in public house hours.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of continuing violence, whether he will now consider a ban on those found guilty of crimes of violence entering licensed premises, as in the case of those convicted under the breathalyser provisions.

No. I remain unconvinced that any practical purpose would be served by a statutory power to ban certain offenders from public houses over and above the common law right of a licensee to decide who he will admit and to eject any person at his discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation committees have sought prior permission from his Department to make appointments of ancillary staff in accordance with the Probation Rules; how many such requests were agreed; and how many refused.

Only one probation and after-care committee has sought to appoint additional staff above the limit envisaged by the rate support grant settlement for the current financial year. The committee concerned was informed that grant could not be paid in respect of any expenditure incurred on the post in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received representations from the Justices Clerks' Society to the effect that magistrates' courts should provide a 24-hour service to give legal protection to battered wives; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

No, but there is a suggestion in a discussion paper by the Justices' Clerks' Society entitled "Towards a Workable Family Court", which was published in the Society's journal for May 1977, that urgent and emergency remedies in the family court field should be readily available on a 24-hour basis. The society has not made any detailed proposals on how this might be done or what it would involve but we would of course be prepared to consider any proposals it may wish to make on this matter.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central, Official Report, 20th June, column 349, whether the determination as to the status of the licence of the University College of Buckingham is based on matters of selection in which the Civil Service Commissioners act independently or is a matter of recruitment policy where they are responsible to his Department.

It is a matter in which the Civil Service Commissioners act independently.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

My Department does not own any automobiles; our needs are met by vehicles on loan from the Department of the Environment. Two full-time drivers and six part-time drivers are employed. The latter combine driving duties with messenger-porter duties.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth), Official Report, 21st June, column 1089, whether it is his intention after the present year to abandon the link between public service pensions and the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot anticipate the outcome of next year's review of public service pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

No automobiles are owned, or drivers employed, by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to further Her Majesty's Government's policy of making membership of the Arts Council more democratic and representative of workers in theatres and entertainment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend on 20th May 1977.— [Vol: 932, 314–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many British teachers of English have been sent to Third world countries by her Department or with funds supplied by her Department.

During the past five years, 28 teachers of English have been assisted with funds under the Commonwealth teacher exchange scheme, to go to Kenya, Jamaica, Barbados and other Third world countries in the Commonwealth, It is, however, unlikely that any of these will be teaching English as a foreign language, since all participants in the exchange scheme, except those from Quebec, are from schools where English is the medium of instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when List 42 was last updated; and when she expects to issue a revised edition.

The present edition of List 42 appeared in 1974. My Department has been considering a new type of publication which would be more useful in the light of developments in the assessment and placement of children with special educational needs. It would, however, be wise to await the findings of the Warnock Committee early next year before reaching a firm decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified teachers are currently unemployed; what proportion is newly qualified; what proportion is over 28 years of age; and what proportion is women.

5,195 people were registered by the Department of Employment in March 1977 as seeking teaching posts in schools in England and Wales, of whom 60 per cent were women. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that his Department's records do not distinguish either newly qualified teachers or those over 28 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will announce that Rolle College is no longer to be included in those teacher training colleges which are having to close.

My right hon. Friend will be making a statement later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum Her Majesty's Government are devoting to cancer research in the financial year 1977–78.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that his Department will be spending approximately £1·35 million in the financial year 1977–78. The Medical Research Council's expenditure during 1977–78 cannot yet be reliably estimated. The figure for its expenditure in 1976–77 will shortly be available and I will arrange for it to be circulated in the Official Report. Information is not available about work supported by universities and hospital medical schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will increase the sum allocated to relieve hardship arising from the increase in student fees; and how the sum allocated is to be disbursed.

It is not now practicable to increase the allowance for hardship made in the university and rate support grant settlements for 1977–78. Disbursement is in the hands of the universities, local authorities and colleges which will determine what help to give from the total resources available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what resources the Medical Research Council devotes to studying the causes of or cures for multiple sclerosis; and which of its publications describes progress of any work or investigations completed on its progress;(2) what resources her Department devotes to studying the causes of and possible cures for multiple sclerosis; and what publication or paper summarises progress in this field.

The Medical Research Council's expenditure on research specifically concerned with multiple sclerosis in the financial year 1976–77 amounted to £735,000, an element of which was provided by the Health Departments. The Council also supports a substantial amount of other work which may be of considerable relevance such as studies on the nervous system and aspects of immunology and virology. The fullest account of progress and plans in this field is contained in "Multiple Sclerosis Research" (HMSO 1975)^* based on the proceedings of a conference organised by the Council and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in October 1974. Some of the ideas discussed in it are mentioned in a review article published in the MRC Annual Report 1975–76 summarising the main lines of work supported by the Council.

^* A copy of which is available in the Library.

Moore asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many automobiles are owned by her Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by her Department.

The information is as follows:

Cars (self-drive):
Ford Escort (1 estate version)	…	19
Vauxhall Viva	…	4
Mini Clubman	…	11
Mini 850 cc	…	13
Morris Marina	…	3
		50

Vans:
Bedford 22 cwt.	…	…	…	2
Bedford 18 cwt.	…	…	…	1
Morris 10 cwt.	…	…	…	3
Morris 6 cwt.	…	…	…	1
Morris Mini	…	…	…	1
Ford Transist	…	…	…	1
Vauxhall Beagle	…	…	…	1
Bedford Luton	…	…	…	1
				11

In addition the Victoria and Albert Museum holds the following:

Cars:
Austin A60	…	…	…	1
Vans:
Ford 3 ton	…	…	…	3
Ford 18 cwt.	…	…	…	1
Ford 15 cwt.	…	…	…	1
				6

My Department employs six messenger/drivers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she has given to the future relationship between work experience schemes, further education for the 16 to 18 year olds and the school system; and whether she proposes any change in the system of education maintenance awards.

The Report of the Manpower Services Commission's Working Party on Young People and Work proposes that all forms of work experience should wherever possible include a fully-integrated element of further education. The Government have been considering the MSC's proposals, and their implications for the education service, and an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give an assurance that she will supplement the recurrent grant to the universities, should the assumptions on which it has been calculated be exceeded; and at what point she would actually do so.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in reply to my hon. Friend the member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) when announcing the universities' recurrent grant for 1977–78 on 28th March 1977.—[Vol. 929, c. 63–64.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Ministers to ensure that the EEC draft regulations on the marketing of milk products does not result in the loss of many traditional British product names.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wriggles-worth) on 24th June 1977.—[Vol. 933, c. 509–10.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is able to give an assessment of the benefits gained for the British consumer from the agricultural policies which have been pursued as a result of United Kingdom entry to the EEC.

I cannot provide an overall assessment, because there is no way of knowing how prices for imported and home produced food would have moved if we had not joined the EEC. For particular details of the merits which the Government's agricultural policies have brought to the consumer I would refer the hon. Member to the many references made by my right hon. Friend on this subject, for example those in his report to the House on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) on 25th–26th April.—[Vol. 930, c. 1234–53.1

Commodity	White Paper Table No.	Production		1974–75	1976–77 forecast	Percentage change
Beef and veal	14	Thousand tonnes	…	1,165	1,038	-11
Mutton and lamb	14	Thousand tonnes	…	252	252	—
Pigmeat	14	Thousand tonnes	…	902	811	-10
Poultrymeat	14	Thousand tonnes	…	622	675	+8½
Eggs	17	Million dozen	…	1,138	1,126	-1
Milk (output for human consumption)	15	Million litres	…	13,364	13,817	+3½
Butter	16	Thousand tonnes	…	51	82	+61
Cheese	16	Thousand tonnes	…	225	221	-2
Wheat	7	Thousand tonnes	…	6,130	4,800	-21½
Barley	7	Thousand tonnes	…	9,133	7,760	-15
Potatoes	9	Thousand tonnes	…	6,791	4,596	-32½

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated production of potatoes for the current year; and what acreage has been planted in the United Kingdom.

The 1976–77 crop season, which is now coming to an end, has been one of overall shortage in which total United Kingdom production was reduced, by weather conditions, to about 4·8 million tonnes compared with the normal 6½–7 million tonnes. It is too early to make firm forecasts relating to the 1977–78 crop but the indications are that the area planted to potatoes in the United Kingdom will probably be slightly above the 1976–77 crop figure of 222,000 hectares. Given reasonable weather this should provide sufficient supplies to meet our requirements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of potatoes was imported into the United Kingdom during 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage increase in the production of beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat, chickens, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, wheat, barley and potatoes since the date of publication of the White Paper "Food from Our Own Resources" to the most recent available date.

Production figures for the commodities specified for 1974–75 and 1976–77 are given in the White Paper on the Annual Review of Agriculture 1977 (Cmnd. 6703). The information is as follows:

I have been asked to reply.This information is published under heading SITC(R) 054.1 in Table III of the December 1976 issue of the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if, in view of the fact that shellfish have been caught in the Bristol Channel showing heavy lead deposits, he will institute a study of levels of pollution in the Bristol Channel;(2) if, in view of the fact that fish have been caught in the Bristol Channel exhibiting heavy concentrations of lead and cadmium, he will institute a study of levels of pollution in the Bristol Channel.

Fisheries Departments have for many years carried out a monitoring programme covering all British coastal waters to establish pollutant levels of lead, cadmium and other heavy metals in fish and shellfish. The data are supplied to the Working Party on the Monitoring of Foodstuffs for Heavy Metals, which has issued a number of reports, including surveys on lead and cadmium in food. These reports contain data and commentary relating to the Bristol Channel area. Copies of the reports are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in reducing imports of honey from countries which are able to sell honey much more cheaply than the equivalent British goods on account of their low standard of living.

The United Kingdom tariff will be increased to 27 per cent. on 1st July when the final transition step to the full common customs tariff is made. As we rely on imports for the majority of our honey supplies it would not be in the national interest to seek any increase in this high level of protection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

My Department owns 573 automobiles. These include 183 cars, 255 vans and other goods vehicles—excluding vehicles with a carrying capacity over three tons—22 minibuses, one coach and 112 Land Rovers. Excluding agricultural workers, 53 staff are employed for driving duties, mostly in conjunction with other duties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what ingredients additional to malt, yeast, hops and water may be used in the production of alcoholic beverages and still be sold legally as beer in each of the EEC countries; and what proposals he has for a common EEC definition of beer.

I regret that information regarding permitted ingredients in beer in each of the EEC countries is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The EEC Commission has now withdrawn an earlier proposal for the harmonisation of the legislation of member States on the composition and labelling of beer which has been under consideration in the Community for a number of years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what ingredients additional to grapes may be used in the productioin of wine and still be sold legally as wine in each of the EEC countries; and what proposals he has for a common EEC definition of wine.

EEC provisions already contain a definition of wine and provide for the controlled use of certain ingredients and additives in wine, including sucrose, tartaric acide, sulphur dioxide, citric acid, neutral potassium tartrate and calcium carbonate. Wine making processes which involve the use of other additives are permitted in accordance with the legislation of individual member States; details of these national provisions are not available. The EEC Council of Ministers is currently studying proposals to harmonise wine making practices throughout the Community.There is also provision for member States to allow the use of composite names including the word "wine", for example, British wine, which is the product made in Britain from concentrated grape juice or must.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now able to announce when revised regulations for the artificial insemination of cattle will be made.

Since I announced the Government's decisions in principle on 27th February 1976, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, there have been consultations with the interested organisations on the details of revised regulations. I regret that progress with the drafting of these regulations has taken longer than I had hoped when I made my statement in February last year, but I am glad to say that copies of a draft of the regulations have now been sent to interested organisations for any comments they may have on the operational details.My right hon. Friend the Minister intends to make the regulations with a view to their coming into operation on 1st September. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be making corresponding regulations for application in Scotland.In addition to implementing the policy announced in my statement in February last year, the new regulations will take account of the way in which artificial insemination has developed since the present regulations were made 1957. In particular, they will make it clear that the statutory controls apply to all use of bull semen for AI, with a tightly drawn exemption for raw semen used on the farm where the bull is kept; they will introduce a new system of controls based on bull approvals which will not differentiate between the use of semen from bulls owned by AI centres and those owned by other individuals or organisations; and they will put on a statutory basis the requirement to quarantine semen between completion of processing and its distribution for use.I realise that there has been concern amongst those involved with AI at the slow progress made in drawing up these regulations. I hope, therefore, that the distribution of the draft regulations for comment, and this statement of our intention concerning the making of the regulations and their operative date, will clarify the position for all those affected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress has been made in flood precaution work in the Elwy Valley, Clwyd, and in particular in the vicinity of Llan-fair Talhaiarn, since the serious flooding of October 1976;(2) when it is proposed to construct an embankment in, and in the vicinity of Llanfair Talhaiarn, Clwyd, with a view to avoiding future flooding from the River Elwy such as occurred in Octber 1976.

The Welsh National Water Development Authority and the Colwyn District Council have applied for grant on schemes to alleviate flooding from the River Elwy and the Nant Barrog, respectively. Both projects will improve flood protection at Llanfair Talhaiarn. Our examination of these applications is well advanced and decisions will be taken shortly. If they are approved it will be for the two authorities to decide on the timing of the work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial advantages he estimates will accrue to the pig sector of British agriculture if accession compensatory amounts are abolished immediately instead of at the end of 1977.

The accession compensatory amounts for pigmeat were abolished on 15th June. This will have the effect of reducing total payments on imports by almost 15 per cent. In the case of bacon this will mean a reduction of about £42 a tonne. This should help our pig-meat processing industry and should also help strengthen our pig market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial advantage he estimates will accrue to the pig sector of British agriculture if the current EEC proposals for improved pigmeat storage schemes are adopted.

The scheme of aids to private storage was improved from 20th June by the addition of new categories of pigmeat of particular interest to United Kingdom producers and processors. The improvements are designed further to encourage the storage of pigmeat by the trade with the objective of strengthening the market. This scheme should generally help to moderate the effects of the pig cycle in the Community. The beneficial effects in the United Kingdom should derive both from the quantity of home-produced pigmeat that is stored and from the impact of the scheme in other member States and the resulting influence on their market prices and their offer prices to our market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial advantage, if any, he estimates will accrue to the pig sector of British agriculture if the current EEC proposals to increase export restrictions are adopted.

The export restitutions on processed pigmeat, including canned hams and certain bacon cuts were substantially increased with effect from 15th June. The United Kingdom is only a minor exporter of these products but the increases, coupled with the abolition of the accession compensatory amounts, will benefit our exporters. More importantly, the improved restitutions should help strengthen our pig market if they encourage exporting countries in the Community to look to other markets outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new firms have been established as a direct result of the activities of the National Enterprise Board.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the prices, in each of the nine member States of the

CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION
						million tonnes
		1960	1965	1970	1975	1976
United Kingdom	…	24·7	27·5	27·9	20·1	22·7
Belgium	…	7·2	9·2	12·6	11·6	12·1
France	…	17·3	19·6	23·8	21·5	23·2
Federal Republic of Germany	…	34·1	36·8	45·0	40·4	42·4
Italy	…	8·5	12·9	17·3	21·8	23·4
Luxembourg	…	4·1	4·6	5·5	4·6	4·6
Netherlands	…	1·9	3·1	5·0	4·8	5·2
Denmark	…	na	0·4	0·5	0·6	0·7
Republic of Ireland	…	na	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·1
Total EEC countries	…	98·1	114·0	137·6	125·5	134·4
United States of America	…	91·9	119·0	119·1	106·0	116·3
Japan	…	22·1	41·1	93·2	102·3	107·4
Rest of the world	…	118·4	182·5	245·7	312·5	325·4
World Total	…	330·5	456·6	595·6	646·3	683·5
Sources:
Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.
International Iron and Steel Institute.
European Economic Communities "Eurostat".

Details of mandatory minimum prices for concrete reinforcing bars and guidance prices for certain steel products covered by the Treaty of Paris, over which the EEC Commission has taken anti-crisis measures, were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, Volume 20, No. L 114 on 5th May 1977, copies of which are available in the Library. Prices charged by individual firms within the EEC are at the discretion of these firms in dealign wih their customers and are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board, together with their directorships.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, from international sources available to him, what was the production of steel by the United Kingdom the nine member States of the EEC, the United States of America, Japan and the rest of the world, respectively, in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1976.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any payment has been made to Courtaulds Ltd. in respect of the £750,000 interest relief grant for the Belmont weaving factory.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any Government money paid to Courtaulds Ltd. in respect of its Skelmersdale factory has been recovered.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the Motor Industry Tripartite Group last met.

As explained to my hon. Friend on 20th June [Vol. 933, c. 382–3] —the group meets as and when it is necessary and dates are settled by mutual agreement. The group's discussions are confidential and cover a wide range of industry problems. The group last met on 27th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many automobiles are owned by his Department; what they are; and how many drivers are employed by his Department.

My Department owns 79 vehicles, of which 25 are saloon cars, five dual purpose vehicles, 25 vans, five buses, and 19 commercial vehicles of various types, Twenty-one drivers are employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what advantages he estimates will be available to industry for bringing forward any of the 130 major chemical projects which are currently being appraised; and if he will list the grants and type of financial assistance available to industry which take advantage of the Government proposals.

The chemical industry is eligible for regional financial incentives, including regional development grants and selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.Companies in the industry may also apply for assistance under Section 8 through the Selective Investment Scheme towards major new investments. The 130 applications received under this scheme to date cover a wide spectrum of manufacturing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will sponsor a programme of building advance flatted factories in inner city areas to create jobs and encourage small businesses which will not damage amenity to return to those areas.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current price of phosphate rock ex Moroccan ports; and whether the United Kingdom demand is related to the needs of agriculture or market stringency.

My Department does not collect information on prices of phosphate rock. Data published by the industry shows that the listed price of Khouribga 72 per cent. TPL rock fas Casablanca as at 1st January 1977 was $3800 per tonne. I have received no complaint of difficulties in supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the important metals and minerals obtainable from South Africa and indicate whether alternative supplies are available from other free world countries in sufficient quantities to meet United Kingdom requirements should deliveries from South Africa become disrupted.

Significant quantities of chromium, gold, manganese and platinum are imported from South Africa. The United Kingdom also imports significant quantities of some chromite ores from the Philippines and manganese ores from Brazil and Ghana, and of chromium, manganese and platinum as metals, or alloys of those metals, from the USA and some Western European countries. The extent to which other sources could replace supplies currently obtained from South Africa would depend on such factors as the timescale of any disruption and the extent of spare capacity in the mining and processing industries of alternative suppliers at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many orders for computers have been made by the British Steel Corporation, by means of open-tender system, in the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.

This is a matter for the Corporation.